In 2012, as the founder of Exclusive Media Group’s digital marketing division, Ed East saw the huge potential of influencer marketing early in the game, engaging the influencer community to promote feature films. Two years later, Ed returned to his native London to launch Billion Dollar Boy as one of the first influencer marketing agencies in the UK.

Astro sign: Libra, on edge of Scorpio

Super powers: Considerate of all opinions; eternal optimist; tech brain.

Motto: “Sensible Risk” What would Ed do with $1 Billion? Find a nice house in London’s Notting Hill and send his children to really good schools.

Working in global PR for Tom Ford Beauty gave Permele an inside perspective on where the luxury market was headed. In 2014, she reconnected with Ed East and opened BDB’s first US office in New York — connecting with beauty and fashion clients. Having led BDB through a rebrand, she continues to lead the company in the global fashion and beauty space and expand the business across the US markets.

Astro sign: Scorpio

Super powers: Editorial eye; natural leadership; can turn abstract concepts into viral images.

Motto: “It’s only as good as it looks.”

What would Permele do with $1 Billion? Launch PERMELE, a lifestyle brand named for herself, her mother and her grandmother.

Thomas brings vast experience in politics (he worked in the office of Tony Blair), film and television (creative development at NBCUniversal) and advertising (Exclusive Media Group) to BDB, where he oversees strategy, planning and global partnerships. After recognizing the untapped potential of the nascent influencer world, Thomas joined forces with Ed East to launch Billion Dollar Boy in 2014. 


Astro sign: Scorpio

Super powers: Encyclopedic influencer knowledge; ability to see the future

Motto: If Tom had a $1 billion he would collect art, travel and change his Linkedin ID to The Billion Dollar Boy

After an early stint as a CPA, James decamped for the business world of television broadcasting, experience that helps him maintain a long view of BDB’s business development. (James is the guy on the team who will delve into the forensics of a campaign to ensure optimal results.) Joining BDB just as it hit its steep growth curve has been his biggest thrill—so far.

Astro Sign: Virgo

Super powers: Speaks 4 languages French German, Spanish, English (5 if you include finance).

Backup superpower: simultaneous right/left sides brain function. (He can make spreadsheets and shop for furniture for BDB’s “relaxed industrialish” London offices at the same time.)

What would James do with $1b: Besides buying a nice house (Fitzroy Square?) and a car, he’d invest in and help grow companies like BDB.

Prior to joining BDB, Tom was the founder of the digital studio SXM, creating branded content for clients like Disney, NBS, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, IKEA, Samsung, VEVO, Mountain Dew and Verizon. While a Mancunian (translation: he’s from Manchester, England) and educated in the UK, he has spent his entire career in the US, always making time for his two young children. (If you ask nicely, he might share his secret granola recipe with you. So BDB…) 

Astro Sign: Virgo

Super Power: Granola-making with sprinkling of lateral thinking.

Motto: Ask not what your creative can do for you; but what you can do for your creative.

What would you do with $1 Billion? Build a hyperloop between New York and London. Wait….that might cost more than a billion right?

Alex started using social media to promote student events, and the company evolved into The Audience, one of the UK’s first social media agencies. He then moved to VICE, Ogilvy Social Lab, and finally, BDB. Alex loves a side-hustle; he runs a charity, a clothing line and makes furniture.

After 9+ years in the beauty and wellness PR space, Andrea saw the influencer light. She packed her bags for BDB where she now leads client relations for beauty and lifestyle brands. On the weekends, when she is not gallivanting around Newport, RI with her fiance and their dog Cooper, she’s test driving the latest skincare and fitness trends. Don’t get her started on how the BDB creative brief is the best in the business.

Astro sign: Aquarius

Super power: Empathy

Motto: Dance like nobody’s watching!

What would Andrea do with $1 Billion? Perhaps there’d be a little weekend place in Newport, RI and her own fitness empire, but mainly she’d Invest in other people.

Sarah (known mostly as Rams) has worked mainly agency side at Ogilvy, VCCP, McCann and some other delightful smaller agencies across multi disciplines. Before BDB, she worked for a creative non-profit called Girl Effect where she trained adolescent girls to become digital researchers (TEGAs) in Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Bio: Ed is an energetic and ambitious person who has developed a mature and responsible approach to his work. He is a motivated and creative HR professional, with a CIPD qualification and varied experience in diversity and inclusion. Ed has built a reputation as a highly effective communicator and influencer with people at all business levels. He has over 10 years of experience working across some of the biggest group names in the UK, including, Havas, WPP, McCann and M&C Saatchi.

Astro sign: Aquarius

Super powers: To be kind!

Motto: Live life. Learn lessons. Liberate yourself.

After completing a Masters in mathematics and statistics from Oxford University in 2013, Irving moved on to transform several tech start-up businesses, co-founding two of his own. Since Billion Dollar Boy in 2017, Irving oversees all tech and data developments of BDB’s proprietary tools.  

Astro sign: Taurus

Super power: We’re pretty sure there’s an element of Ex-Machina in him.

Motto: Be spontaneous.

What would Irving do with $1 Billion? Save the world. And invest in companies focused on social causes.